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Al Ahli beat Saudi Al Hilal 2-0 in a friendly encounter

Dubai-based Al-Ahli Senior Football Team defeated Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia 2-0 in a friendly encounter played this evening at Rashid Stadium in Dubai. The game was organized for a noble humanitarian purpose, as its income will be allocated for the benefit of those affected by the famine in Somalia and the Horn of Africa.

Both squads missed the efforts of most of their key players who are currently joining the UAE and Saudi Arabia Senior and Olympic Teams who are in National duties.

The hosts team looked the better side in the major parts of the game after taking full control of play that helped them to threaten the visiting team's goal in many occasions. They were the first to find the back of the net when Brazilian professional player Graffiti capitalized on the dead ball switched by his countryman Jaja from the right flank just a few meters away from the box and slammed it home with a perfect header only 16 minutes into play. Al Hilal's Korean player You came close to level the score when he faced the goalkeeper Obaid Al Taweela, but his close-range shot hit the cross bar in the 18th minute and flew away. The two teams went on their attempts but they missed all the chances that came their way to end the first session with a 1-0 lead  for Al Ahli.

The two coaches made some substitutes after the breather giving the chance for a number of young players. Ahmad Khamis made it 2-0 for the home team in the 59th minute and the substitute Abdullah Mohammad Essa who replaced Graffiti, came close to add the third  but his shot was blocked by the losers' custodian in the 78th minute. Khalid Al Kaabi of Al Hilal sent a strong volley two minutes later that rebounded off the goalkeeper and cleared away by a defender. The players failed to add more goals in the remaining minutes to end the tie with a 2-0 victory for Al Ahli.